(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said today that state sales tax revenue in December was $2.25 billion, up 3.9 percent compared to December 2012.

“Consumer spending in retail trade contributed to the latest gain in state sales tax collections,” Combs said. “Other sectors such as telecommunications also contributed to the monthly growth, and state sales tax revenue has now increased for 45 consecutive months.”

Combs will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their January local sales tax allocations totaling $573.5 million, up 8.1 percent compared to January 2013.